THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI. 659 



all others why some meadows have failed to give the best results after 

 properly seeding we would say over pasturing, perhaps this is a wrong 

 statement as any pasturing is detrimental to the hay crop. There may be 

 some soils and climates where meadow lands may be pastured without 

 injury, but in this county to bring them to their highest development both 

 in production and building up the fertility of the soil, we would say that 

 stock should not be allowed to pasture. 



After cutting the hay crop there will grow a short, heavy 

 aftermath. If this is allowed to remain it will strengthen the 

 grass plant and form a mulch which is a protection from the 

 rigors of winter. Allow this to be removed by the pasturing or 

 stock the plant will be weakened and subjected to exposure with- 

 out protection. This alone will materially affect the outcome of the 

 hay crop, but the evil results do not end with this reduction. The grass 

 plant builds up the land principally by the filling of the soil with fibres 

 and roots, which in turn decay, forming a mold upon which later crops 

 feed. If the plant is weakened in any manner the roots will also suffer 

 and if the soil is not thoroughly filled with these roots, the fertility of the 

 soil will suffer in the same ratio. 



In many of our pastures there is much room for improvement. In this 

 county and perhaps all others of the state we can see them from a waste 

 of weeds and bare land up to those that are a joy to the eye of their pos- 

 sessor. The worst pastures that we see are those that are supposed to 

 bo permanent and are located upon land which is thought to be unfit for 

 cultivation. On most of these lands much can be done to make them more 

 productive. Channels can be made to draw off the surplus water. Kinds 

 of grass can be sown adapted to the character of different soils, and by 

 keeping stock off at certain seasons of the year, the grass plant can be 

 strengthened and made more productive. On lands that are overflowed 

 or under water in any other way for long periods, we do not think they 

 can be used profitably until some way is devised to drain them. On all 

 other lands we should have a good stand of thrifty grass. This can only 

 be done by care and proper selection of seed sown. On lands that are suit- 

 able for blue grass no better selection could be made, but it should be sown 

 with timothy so that a quick pasture can be secured until the blue grass is 

 firmly established. Those that have tried alsike clover recommend it for 

 land that is not too subject to overflow. But this grass requires extra at- 

 tention to start, as it must be mowed at least twice in the summer to keep 

 other grasses from shading it. Red top may not be as desirable for pas- 

 ture as other kinds, but there is much land now going to waste which 

 might be utilized and partly reclaimed by its use. Some pastures which 

 have been good when first seeded down, seem to have lost their grass pro- 

 ducing qualities. We can offer no remedy except where possible to plow 

 them up and reseed them. This would be a radical measure and entail loss 

 where the land is unfit for the production of other crops. We would like 

 to have the renovation of old pastures discussed by some person who has 

 had experience along this line. Land has now become too valuable to 

 run the risk of failure by slip-shod methods. There will always be seasons 



